Jun 23, 2011
Shoreline Changes on an Urban Atoll in the Central Pacific Ocean: Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands
by
,
Journal of Coastal Research
- States that Majuro, the capital of the Marshall Islands, is considered highly vulnerable to sea level rise
- Presents an analysis of shoreline change over a 34- to 37-year study period, characterized by rapidly increasing population, coastal development, and rising sea level (3.0 mm y−1)
- Results show most (93%) urban and rural villages have increased in size over the study period
- Shoreline change analysis indicates the urban area has expanded both toward the lagoon and onto the ocean-facing reef flat
- Finds that rural areas of the atoll typically have lower rates of shoreline change relative to those of urban areas
- Analysis indicates that the rural lagoon shore is predominantly eroding, whereas the ocean-facing shore is largely accreting
- Finds that any shoreline response to sea level rise along the Majuro coast is likely masked by widespread anthropogenic impacts to the coastal system